(Skye Media) Jett Beres, bassist of the band Sister Hazel, plans to release a children's book entitled "Starfish, A Lullaby" on September 23, 2008. The book is based on the lyrics to the song "Starfish," which is featured on the band's platinum-selling album "Somewhere More Familiar," and it will be released by independent publisher SeaTails, LLC. Beres plans to self-distribute the book by selling it online at the band's website and at Sister Hazel shows. Additionally, the book will be available online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and www.StarfishLullaby.com, as well as at select Borders stores.
"I am a father," says Beres. "I read to my kids every night when I'm not on tour and understand the importance of reading to children. It will be a thrill to have my own book to read to my kids at night. This is also a great way to introduce children to Sister Hazel through a bedtime story. Our fans are becoming parents now, and this song has always been a fan favorite, especially among children."
The 6x6 board book features the lyrics from the song "Starfish," accompanied by illustrations penned by Sean Kelley, who has illustrated the SeaTails series and met Beres at an art festival. The tale of the starfish is one that touches on universal themes – being a long way from home and finding one's way in the world.
Packaged with each book is a CD which boasts the "Lullaby Suite," a three-song "Starfish" sampler. Included are a lullaby version of the song performed by Beres and Sister Hazel bandmate Ryan Newell, a symphonic arrangement of the song, and a classical guitar take on the tune. The sampler, which is interwoven with ocean sounds, clocks in at eighteen minutes, which Beres says is proven to be the perfect amount of time for his kids to fall asleep. The book and CD will retail for $11.99 and a percentage of proceeds from the book sales will go to benefit Lyrics for Life (www.lyricsforlife.org).
Sister Hazel has sold over two million albums and co-founded the Rock Boat (www.therockboat.com), the world's largest floating music festival, with Sixthman in 2001, which they also host annually. In 2001, the band established the charity, Lyrics for Life, which benefits children with cancer. Sister Hazel is: Ken Block (vocals, acoustic guitar), Drew Copeland (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ryan Newell (lead guitar), Jett Beres (bass), Mark Trojanowski (drums). The band can be found online atwww.sisterhazel.com and www.myspace.com/sisterhazel.
